This book follows Darrow, a lowborn Red man whose whole world has recently been turned upside down. From the blistering Mars mines to the secret city on the surface of the planet, Darrow discovers his life as a miner is a lie, and that the higher born Golds have been keeping the moderation to themselves. After his wife is hanged for rebellious behavior and he himself sentenced to death, Darrow narrowly escapes the grave waiting for him. Darrow joins the rebel group, somewhat reluctantly, and becomes the test subject for a risky procedure that could upturn everything his society is built on. The long process is taxing, but he takes to his new body fondly. As he infiltrates the Golds and collects information, Darrow must be extremely careful to not be found out for the lowly blood which courses through his veins, or he will face death.
This book was quite enjoyable, with depth and a well-developed plot. Emotionally thrilling and entrancing, Red Rising was one of my favorite fantasy books this year by far. The characters were interesting and relatable, and the dystopian feel of the novel was probably my favorite part. With twists and betrayals, as well as piles of lies and deception, this book was exciting and action-packed. Highly recommend to people who liked The Hunger Games or Divergent, as this has the same feel, but kicked up a notch. I would rate this book at five stars, easily. I am looking forward to the sequel.